Iran: Imminent hanging of a boy committing a crime when 15

NCRI – Death sentence for a boy who had committed a crime when he was only 15 has shocked human rights organizations and activists. Etemad-Meli state-run daily reported that Behnam Zare’ was due to be hanged in Adel-Abad Prison in Shiraz, south of Iran, on August 22, but it was delayed for 15 days upon an appeal by his parents. As time limit drawing closer, Amnesty International made the following appeal to save his life:

PUBLIC                AI Index: MDE 13/109/2007         

31 August 2007

UA 230/07        Death penalty/ Fear of imminent execution                

IRAN        Behnam Zare’ (m), aged 18

Behnam Zare’ has been convicted of a murder committed when he was 15 years old, and is now at risk of imminent execution, though Iran is a state party to international treaties including the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which expressly prohibit the execution of child offenders. Behnam Zare’ has been detained in Adelabad prison, in the south-western city of Shiraz, since his arrest. His death sentence could be carried out at any time.

The murder reportedly took place on 21 April 2005, when Behnam Zare’ swung a knife during an argument with a man named Mehrdad, wounding him in the neck. Mehrdad later died in hospital. Behnam Zare’ was detained on 13 November 2005; Branch 5 of Fars Criminal Court sentenced him to qesas (retribution) on charges of premeditated murder. Under Article 206 (b) of Iran’s Criminal Code, murder is classed as premeditated “in cases where the murderer intentionally makes an action which is inherently lethal, even if [the murderer] does not intend to kill the person.” The case went on appeal before Branch 33 of the Supreme Court where the sentence was upheld, and it has now been passed to the Office for Implementation of Sentences.

Behnam Zare’ was reportedly not aware that he had been sentenced to death until a recent visit from his lawyer.

Around 11 August, his family were reportedly asked to seek a pardon from the victim’s family, who have so far reportedly refused to grant one.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION

International law strictly prohibits the use of the death penalty against people convicted of crimes committed when they were under 18. As a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the CRC, Iran has undertaken not to execute child offenders. However, since 1990, Iran has executed at least 24 child offenders. At least 71 child offenders are currently on death row in Iran.